NIGER: ACCIDENTAL LANDMINE EXPLOSION AT "LAYING

C O N F I D E N T I A L NIAMEY 000821

SIPDIS

STATE FOR AF/W DENNISON/HEFLIN
PARIS FOR AF WATCHER

E.O. 12958: DECL: 08/25/2018
TAGS: ASEC CASC PGOV MOPS PREL NG
SUBJECT: NIGER: ACCIDENTAL LANDMINE EXPLOSION AT "LAYING
DOWN ARMS" CEREMONY

REF: A. NIAMEY 819

B. NIAMEY 815

C. NIAMEY 800

Classified By: Ambassador Bernadette M. Allen, Reasons: 1.4 b and d


1. (U) Summary. On the morning of Sunday, August 24,
Government of Niger (GON) authorities and Revolutionary Armed
Forces of the Sahara (FARS) rebels (of Toubou ethnicity) held
a ceremony in which FARS rebels turned over hundreds of
weapons (landmines, guns, grenades, etc.). Regrettably, the
leader of a nongovernmental organization (NGO) Agir Pour Un
Developpment Durable (ADD) who was facilitating the arms
handover, inadvertently caused a landmine to explode, killing
himself and creating a chain reaction of explosions that
injured over 40 others (civilians and military),notably
local officials and military officers. The ceremony
replicated others conducted over the past year that were
later aired on television to show the rebels' interest in
national unity. On the August 24 Tele-Sahel (public
television station) evening news, Minister of Communications
Ben Omar (the GON spokesperson) expressed the GON's
condolences to the deceased's family members and reported
that the injured had been hospitalized in Zinder and Niamey.
The injured Governor accompanied the most severe cases
medevaced by plane to Niamey. End summary.


2. (C) Embassy personnel inquiries indicate that the
landmine explosion in Goure, located in the southern region
of Zinder (about 600 miles east of Niamey),was an accident
caused by carelessness. Remarks delivered by GON officials
and others at the "laying down arms" ceremony had been
completed and the speakers were proceeding to view the arms
cache when the NGO ADD leader (Moussa Bidal) is reported to
have inadvertently set off a landmine. It still remains
unclear whether he stepped on an anti-personnel mine or was
handling a landmine when it went off. (Comment: Embassy has
seen several such ceremonies televised this past year and has
taken note of the careless way these hundreds of arms and
landmines have been handled and displayed, usually passed and
stacked on rugs or straw mats on the ground for open viewing.
It is surprising, in light of the lack of care in handling
the "aged" weaponry that the August 24 incident was the first
accident to have occurred at one of these ceremonies. It
also is fortunate that the human toll was not higher, given
the crowd reportedly in attendance. End note.)


3. (C) Ambassador spoke with Governor of Zinder Yahaya
Yandaka (still in Niamey) on August 25 to express her regret
in learning of the injuries to the Governor and others, and
the death of Mr. Moussa. The Governor reported that he was
doing fine and resting. He stated he could have been treated
in Zinder but wanted to accompany the six severely injured
persons medically evacuated to Niamey, as well as inform
President Tandja what had occurred. Among the severely
injured are a National Assembly delegate, a former GON
minister, the Zone III Military Commander (military),the
Commander's bodyguard and two other military officers.
Yahaya reemphasized that he was not among the severely
injured and stated that in addition to the deceased (Moussa)
the most severely injured person is the Zone III Military
Commander who is suffering from third degree burns. He
stated, consistent with other accounts provided to Embassy
team members, that Moussa had accidentally caused the initial
landmine to explode creating a chain reaction of explosions
from other landmines stacked in close proximity. The
Embassy's FSN Political Assistant was able to contact Goure
Mayor Oumarou Gounga (in Zinder) on August 25, who was at
home recovering and reported that he was feeling better. He
also called the incident an accident, but said the GON
expects to investigate to try to determine its cause.


4. (U) The Mouvement des Nigeriens pour la Justice (MNJ) has
made claims on its website (operated out of Paris) that the
tragedy was no accident, but post considers as credible the
eyewitness reports from persons on the scene in Zinder at the
time of the explosion.

Minimize considered.
ALLEN